BY SAMMIE JONES
Police have been granted another year to investigate allegations that the conservative party overspent to stop Nigel Farage becoming an MP.
District judge Justin Barron at Folkestone Magistrates Court has allowed officers in Kent more time to probe the contest in South Thanet – won by Tory Craig Mackinlay.
Barron stated that the claims surrounding the party’s expenses were on an “unprecedented scale” and could result in “election results being declared void”. Any voided election result will have a very damaging effect on the reputation and integrity of the Conservative party. Etxactly why an extra year is needed to conclude investigations on this matter is unclear.
VICTORY
Mr Mackinlay’s victory was by an outright 2,800 votes- a celebratory moment for the Conservatives at the time.
However, an investigation has established that hotel bills for Conservative campaigners staying nearby were not declared on his election return – which would have far exceeded the legal spending limits. This raises questions about the amount unaccounted for. An extra year should be sufficient to get to the bottom of this.
More facts established that the Conservatives had sent teams of mainly young activists, known as Team 2015 across the country on battle buses to canvass for the party.
The fact that accommodation and travel costs were not always declared on each MP’s return added to suspicions that something on toward is going on.
Some financial declarations were declared on the party’s national expenses, where the limits are higher. But other expected declarations were not made.
CAMPAIGNING
The Conservatives insist these activists were campaigning nationally, not for individual MPs, and that all their spending was “properly declared in accordance with the law”.
EVIDENCE
Evidence gathered from 30 constituencies the buses visited has now been referred to police who will investigate whether it was declared incorrectly.This may be another aspect of the process that may come within the one year police have to investigate these claims.
There are understood to be 18 other police forces which have sought or been given an extension to investigate Conservative election expenses across the country.
Under the Representation of the People Act, police have one year after an election return has been submitted, to bring a case.
The party honestly gave declarations for money spent in South Thanet, and Mr Mackinlay’s return shows his campaign spent just within the limit at £14,837. However, hotel bills suggest another £18,900 was spent on putting up campaigners in local hotels.
RULES
The Electoral Commission are also investigating whether election rules were broken.
Judge Barron’s judgement says he extended the time limit due to “exceptional circumstances” and the “very significant public interest in the matter being fully investigated”.